Lifting yoke for transport containers

ABSTRACT

A lifting yoke for transport containers is disclosed. Connecting lugs rotatably mounted in the yoke frame may be rotated in steps of 90*, for example from a neutral position to a connecting position and vice versa by means of an elongated transmission element connected between the lifting cable and a ratchet mechanism drive coupled with the connecting lugs, the transmission element having such a length that it is tightened well before the lifting straps between the lifting cable and the yoke frame are tightened.

ilnited States Paem 1191 Strand [54] LIFTING YOKE FOR TRANSPORT CONTAINERS [76] Inventor: Lewis Strand, Harald Lovenskiolsvei 37, Oslo, Norway [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 198,697

[52] US Cl. ..294/67 DA, 294/81 SF [51] Int. Cl. ..B66c 1/62 [58] Field of Search ..294/67 R, 67 DA, 81 SF; 212/128; 248/361 R; 220/102; 224/48 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,50l ,193

' F(iliEIGNPATENIYGiAFPLTCATiGNi Germany ..294/8l SF 3/1970 Gray ..294 67 R Jan.23, 1973 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Douglas Bellis Attorney-Pierce, Scheffler & Parker [57] ABSTRACT A lifting yoke for transport containers is disclosed. Connecting lugs rotatably mounted in the yoke frame may be rotated in steps of 90, for example from a neutral position to a connecting position and vice versa by means of an elongated transmission element connected between the lifting cable and a ratchet mechanism drive coupled with the connecting lugs, the transmission element having such a length that it is tightened well before the lifting straps between the lifting cable and the yoke frame are tightened.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures LIFTING YOKE FOR TRANSPORT CONTAINERS The present invention relates to a lifting yoke for transport containers having hook fittings, the lifting yoke comprising a rectangular frame, wherein are mounted connecting elements which are movable from a neutral position to a connection position and vice versa, the frame being, by means of lifting straps, suspended in a lifting cable.

Lifting yokes for containers are previously known having connecting elements which are manually movable or movable by means of hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus. The first type is workand time consuming and the last is complex in construction and thus expensive. This last ty'pe requires, moreover, transfer of the pressure medium to the lifting yoke, which further complicates the embodiment and also entails a factor of uncertainty in the operation.

' An automatic lifting yoke is previously known having the lifting cable connected to a rod mechanism horizontally displaces four lockinglugs for engagement with hook-shaped connection openings on a container. This means cannot be utilized, however, for connection lugs which are to be rotated 90 from a neutral position to a connecting position and vice versa. The object of the present invention is to provide a lifting yoke for transport containers having hook fittings where the connection elements on the lifting yoke may be brought, in a simple mechanical manner, from a neutral position to a connecting position and vice versa by rotating the connecting elements 90.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved by a lifting yoke for transport containers having slot shaped openings for insertion of connecting members, comprising a rectangular frame in which connecting lugs are mounted which may be rotated 90 from a neutral position to a connecting position and vice versa, and where the frame by means of lifting straps is suspended in a lifting cable and the movements of the connecting lugs are provided by means of a strap or a rodattached to the lifting cable and which, over suitable transmission, is in connection with the connecting lugs, the

strap or rod activating the connecting lugs before there isa load on the straps, whereby the strap or rod acts on a lever which, on lifting actuates over a pawl mechanism rotation of a shaft which, with a crank at each end or crank rods, effects a preferably 90rotation of the connecting lugs,s that, on the first-heave of the lifting cable, the said lugs come intolockingposition and on the next heave into neutral position.

The ratchet wheel in the pawlmechanism may be arranged on an intermediate shaft, so that the said shaft is rotated a certain angle for each heave. A gear wheel being mounted for the intermediate shaft, said gear wheel being in engagement with a gear wheel for the shaft which actuates the crank arms. In order to avoid the risk of breakage in the arrangement on the occurrence of a defect in the comer fitting of the containers, a spring may be inserted in. the strap driving the mechanism,-and the rotation of the lever may be restricted in both directions by stops. in place of a spring, the actual strap may be a resilient member.

. The lifting yoke according to the inventionacts in the following manner:

.The yoke which is suspended in a lifting cable in the conventional manner, -is laid upon the container by means of a rope at each of the four corners, so that the connecting elements project into the engagement member on the container. The lifting cable is slackened so that the lifting straps become slack. When the lifting cable is raised, the strap guiding the connecting mechanism .will first become tight and, over expedient links, will rotate the connecting elements so that they are in engagement with the engagement member on the fittings of the container, the lifting straps being thereafter tightened on further raising of the lifting cable.

The invention is further explained in the following by means of the drawing in which FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment example of a lifting yoke according to the invention, intended for containers of the so-called ISO-standard, series 1, (NS 1535), with standardized corner fittings (NS I539).

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a comer of the container with standardized corner fittings, with a connecting lug in two different positions.

The lifting yoke consists of a frame 1, indicated merely by a single line, which is suspended in a lifting cable 2, by means of four corner straps 3. In the four corners of the frame 1, vertical connecting lugs 4 are rotatably mounted, said lugs consisting of a shaft journal 5 and a transverse locking leaf 6 which projects from both sides of the journal 5. The locking leaf 6 tapers in downward direction, so that it more readily can enter the rectangular slot 7 in a corner fitting 8 on a container 9. A further strap 11 is secured to the lifting cable 2 over a head 10, said strap 11 being at its other end secured to a lever 12 which, with one end, is mounted freely rotatable on a shaft 13. On the shaft 13, a ratchet wheel 14 is mounted which cooperates with a pawl 15 on the lever 12. On the shaft 13, a gear wheel 16 is further mounted which is in engagement with a gear wheel 17 on the main shaft 18 which, connecting 19 and 20, is rotatably mounted in the frame 1. The main shaft 18 extends from one end of the frame to the other and is, at each end, provided with a crank arm 21 and 22. Each of the cranks isv provided with two crank rods 23 and 24 and 23' and 24 respectively, which extendin arelative directions toward the corners of the frame 1. The crank rods 23, 24 and 23, 24' are, at their free ends, linked to an arm 25 on the journal 5 on each of the four connecting lugs 4. A spring 26 may be inserted in the strap 11 in order to prevent damage to the mechanism if a defect in the fitting of a container should prevent rotation of the connecting elements 4. Stops, not shown, restrict the movement of the lever 12 and thereby also of the pawl 15 in both directions.

The lifting yoke according to the above described embodiment example acts in the following manner.

The lifting yoke is lowered by means of the lifting cable onto the top of a container having the connecting lugs in the position illustrated on the drawing. The locking leaves 6 of the connecting lugs 4 are guided into the respective locking openings 7 on the corner fittings of the container and the lifting cable is slackened to a degree which allows the frame 1 to rest upon the top of the container, with the lifting straps 3 and maneuvering strap 11 in slack state. The lever 12 will then fall downwardly until it stops against a rigidly arranged stop (not shown). Thereafter, the lifting cable 2 is raised and, before the straps 3 are tightened, the

maneuvering strap 11 will draw the lever 12 upwardly and the pawl 15 will rotate the ratchet wheel 14 until the lever 12 stops against a stop (not shown). By means of the shaft 13, the gear wheels 16 and 17, the main shaft 18, the cranks 21 and 22, the crank rods 23, 24 and 23', 24' and the crank arms 25, the connecting lugs are rotated. The movement of the lever 12, the exchange between the gear wheels 16 and 17 and the length of the cranks and arms must be adapted so that the connecting lugs 4 are rotated 90 for each heave. The pawl is then raised in this position and when it is thereafter put down and the straps 3 and 11 slackened and thereafter raised, the connecting elements 4 will again be rotated 90 and will be returned to the starting position, that is to say the upper angular position illustrated in FIG. 2, and the whole yoke may then immediately be lifted free from the container.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment example illustrated on the drawing, but can be effected in various ways within the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A lifting yoke for containers with slot-shaped openings for insertion of connecting members, comprising a rectangular frame, connecting lugs mounted rotatable in the said frame, lifting straps for the suspension of the said frame in a lifting cable, a main shaft rotatably mounted in the said frame, transmission means connecting the said connecting lugs respectively with the said main shaft for rotational movement of the said connecting lugs in response to a rotational movement of the said main shaft, a ratchet wheel and pawl mechanism drive coupled with the said main shaft, an elongated transmission element connected between the lifting cable and the said pawl, the said transmission element having such a length that the said pawl and thereby the said ratchet wheel are moved sufficiently to provide a rotational movement of the said connecting lugs through the said main shaft and the said transmission means before a load is exerted on the said lifting straps.

2. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein the said transmission means comprise a crank arm at an end of the said shaft, and crank rods connecting the said crank arms respectively with a respective crank arm on each of the said connecting lugs.

3. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein an intermediate shaft is mounted in the said frame parallel with the said shaft, a first gear wheel mounted on the said intermediate shaft, a second gear wheel mounted on the said main shaft and meshing with the said first gear wheel, the said ratchet wheel being mounted on the said intermediate shaft.

4. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein a spring is inserted in the said elongated transmission element.

5. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein stops are provided for the movement of the said pawl in both directions. 

1. A lifting yoke for containers with slot-shaped openings for insertion of connecting members, comprising a rectangular frame, connecting lugs mounted rotatable in the said frame, lifting straps for the suspension of the said frame in a lifting cable, a main shaft rotatably mounted in the said frame, transmission means connecting the said connecting lugs respectively with the said main shaft for rotational movement of the said connecting lugs in response to a rotational movement of the said main shaft, a ratchet wheel and pawl mechanism drive coupled with the said main shaft, an elongated transmission element connected between the lifting cable and the said pawl, the said transmission element having such a length that the said pawl and thereby the said ratchet wheel are moved sufficiently to provide a 90* rotational movement of the said connecting lugs through the said main shaft and the said transmission means before a load is exerted on the said lifting straps.
 2. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein the said transmission means comprise a crank arm at an end of the said shaft, and crank rods connecting the said crank arms respectively with a respective crank arm on each of the said connecting lugs.
 3. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein an intermediate shaft is mounted in the said frame parallel with the said shaft, a first gear wheel mounted on the said intermediate shaft, a second gear wheel mounted on the said main shaft and meshing with the said first gear wheel, the said ratchet wheel being mounted on the said intermediate shaft.
 4. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein a spring is inserted in the said elongated transmission element.
 5. A lifting yoke as in claim 1, wherein stops are provided for the movement of the said pawl in both directions. 